Andy Holmes

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Alternative Title:
Andrew Jeremy Holmes

Andy Holmes, (Andrew Jeremy Holmes), British rower (born Oct. 15, 1959, London, Eng.—died Oct. 24, 2010, London), partnered with Steven Redgrave (later Sir Steven) to win the gold medal in the coxed fours (with Martin Cross and Richard Budgett) at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and followed with golds in the coxless pairs and coxed fours at the 1986 Commonwealth Games, the coxed pairs at the 1986 world championships, the coxless pairs at the 1987 world championships (as well as a silver in the coxed pairs), and the coxless pairs at the 1988 Seoul Olympics (plus a bronze in the coxed pairs). Holmes took up rowing in school, and as a member of the Leander Rowing Club, he triumphed in the Thames Challenge Cup at the 1978 Henley Royal Regatta. This led to his selection for the national coxed fours team at the 1981 world championships. When he and Redgrave split right after the 1988 Olympics, Holmes was unable to find another partner, and he retired from rowing, though he later coached. He was made MBE in 1989. Holmes reportedly died of Weil disease (leptospirosis), a rare bacterial illness contracted from infected water.